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Sam Cane could provide quick fix for Razor's struggling All Blacks
SENZ • August 12th, 2024 3:11 pm
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson likely has a laundry list of issues to address after Saturday's capitulation against Argentina, but the most pressing of those needs to be, in the eyes of former test forward Murray Mexted, getting the right player into the hallowed black No. 7 jersey.
According to the 34-Test international, the openside flanker position's role is simply to be a "hunter and gatherer", someone able to tackle opposition to a standstill, secure fast ruck ball, and win turnovers.
It's an area where the All Blacks have struggled in the early stages of the Razor regime but would be quickly rectified by the re-introduction of former All Blacks captain Sam Cane.
Cane hasn’t featured for the All Blacks since his infamous red card during the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final defeat to the Springboks last year, having since announced his decision to retire from Test rugby at the end of 2024.
But Mexted insists Cane fits the brief perfectly for Robertson, with current openside flanker Dalton Papali'i more suited to the No. 6 position.
"We're mucking around at No. 7 too because I think we're playing a guy at the moment at No. 7 who's more of a blindside flanker," Mexted told SENZ Mornings."The role of a No. 7 hasn’t changed. The role of a no. 7 is a hunter gatherer.
"In my mind, who's our best hunter gatherer? I would say it's Sam Cane.
"He played with Richie McCaw for many years and they are both hunters and gatherers.
"I think we need to see him playing at seven."
Currently five Tests short of becoming an All Blacks centurion, a back complaint hampered Cane's season in Japan, limiting his time spent on the field in 2024.
He missed out on selection for the England and Fiji tests but was recalled for the Rugby Championship, although it's unclear when he'll be ready for selection.
He played an NPC warm-up match for Bay of Plenty a fortnight ago, which gives some indication he may be approaching availability.
Mexted believes Robertson is yet to settle on a genuine test match loose forward trio, which he says is also missing the aerially skilled blindside flanker that has become so imperative in the modern game.
"The loose forwards aren't right," he noted.
"We've got a tried and true openside flanker and No. 8 sitting there in the squad.
“In my view, all they need to do then is get the blindside flanker role right. That blindside flanker needs to be able to win aerial possession and that’s fundamental.
"You need more guys contesting the ball in the air now then you ever have in the game of rugby."
All of the All Blacks' shortcomings in Wellington aside, Mexted says the Pumas deserve immense credit for the latest in a series of recent performances against the New Zealanders which prove their time spent in the Rugby Championship is paying massive dividends.
"They're a red-blooded team, there's no doubt about that," Mexted said. "They’ve got better and better. Most of their players are playing in Europe at a high level of a competition.
"Because of their involvement with the Rugby Championship for so long now, they’ve got better and better and better.
"They know the standard and their game has improved in depth, style of play and their technical approach to the game has improved out of sight. They’ve changed dramatically and made big steps. They know what they're doing now and they're tough.
"They had emotion. Strategic attention to what they were doing. They counter attacked on our mistakes. They played a bit like South Africa in that respect.
"They applied pressure and when mistakes were made, they pounced."
Listen to the full interview below:
